Parish Brewing Company
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1723 |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
Area served | Louisiana, United States |
Breweries throughout Louisiana craft a wide array of beer varieties, distributed locally, across the region, and nationwide. These establishments vary from tiny nanobreweries and microbreweries to expansive multinational macrobreweries.
In 2014, Louisiana was home to 37 breweries and brewpubs, supported by 66 distributors and numerous retailers, collectively providing employment to over 15,000 individuals directly and an additional 10,000 in affiliated industries. When factoring in suppliers, the total business and personal tax contributions surpassed $380 million, while consumer spending contributed another $150 million. That same year, Louisiana held the 36th position nationally for craft breweries per capita with a total of 15.[1]
By the close of 2013, the United States featured 2,822 breweries in total, with 2,768 classified as craft breweries encompassing brewpubs, microbreweries, and regional craft breweries. The brewing sector employed approximately 43,000 people involved in brewing and distribution activities and generated an economic impact exceeding $246 billion.[2]
History
During the 19th century and into the early 20th century, New Orleans served as Louisiana’s primary center for brewing. The city’s inaugural brewery was La Brassiere, founded by Pierre Dreux in 1723. In 1852, Louis and Samuel Fasnacht established Fasnacht Brewery, which was later acquired by Erath and Company Brewery in 1869. The New Orleans Brewing Association emerged in 1890 through the consolidation of six breweries at the Louisiana Brewing Co. site, producing notable brands such as 4-X Beer and Double Eagle Ale.[3]
Prominent breweries from that era included Jackson Brewing Co. (1890), American Brewing Co. (1891), Columbia Brewing Co. (1899), Dixie Brewing Co. (1907), National Brewing Co. (1911), Union Brewing Corp. (1911), and Falstaff Brewing Corp. (1936).[4]
The contemporary craft beer movement in Louisiana commenced in 1986 with the establishment of Abita Brewing Co., mirroring a nationwide surge in craft brewery development that continued expanding across the state into the early 2000s.[5]
Breweries
| Brewery | Type | Location | Founded | On-site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abita Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Covington | 1986 | Taproom |
| All Relation Beer | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2019 | Taproom |
| Bayou Teche Brewing | Microbrewery | Arnaudville | 2010 | Taproom |
| Brieux Carré Brewing | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Broken Wheel Brewery | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Marksville | 2015 | Taproom |
| Chafunkta Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Mandeville | 2013 | Taproom |
| Courtyard Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2014 | Taproom |
| Crescent City Brewhouse | Brewpub | New Orleans | 1991 | Taproom |
| Crying Eagle Brewing Company | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Lake Charles | 2016 | Taproom |
| Faubourg Brewing Company | Regional | New Orleans | 1907 | Taproom |
| Flying Heart Brewing & Pub | Microbrewery | Bossier City | 2015 | Taproom |
| Flying Tiger Brewery | Microbrewery | Monroe | 2016 | Taproom |
| Gnarly Barley Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Hammond | 2014 | Taproom |
| Gordon Biersch Brewing Company | Brewpub (National chain) | New Orleans | 2004 | Taproom |
| Low Road Brewing | Microbrewery | Hammond | 2017 | Taproom |
| Miel Brewery and Taproom | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2018 | Taproom |
| Mudbug Brewery | Microbrewery | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 2014 | Taproom |
| New Orleans Lager and Ale Brewing Company (NOLA) | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2009 | Taproom |
| Oak St Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2021 | Taproom |
| Old Rail Brewing Company | Brewpub | Mandeville | 2013 | Taproom |
| Ouachita Brewing Company | Microbrewery | West Monroe, Louisiana | 2015 | Taproom |
| Parish Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Broussard, Louisiana | 2010 | Taproom |
| Parleaux Beer Lab | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Port Orleans Brewing Company | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Red River Brewing Company | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Shreveport | 2013 | Taproom |
| Royal Brewery (New Orleans) | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Second Line Brewing | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2015 | Taproom |
| Tin Roof Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Baton Rouge | 2010 | Taproom |
| Urban South Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2016 | Taproom |
| Zony Mash Beer Project | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2019 | Taproom |
Closed Breweries
| Brewery | Category | Location | Established | Closed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Arpent Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Arabi | 2014 | 2017 | |
| American Brewing Company (New Orleans) | Regional Brewery | New Orleans | 1891 | 1962 | Initially launched as American Brewing Company in 1891; rebranded to American Beverage Company in 1933; reverted to original name in 1934. Famous for Regal Beer. |
| Cajun Brewing | Microbrewery | Lafayette | 2015 | 2018 | |
| Cane River Brewing | Microbrewery | Natchitoches | 2018 | 2022 | Operations were assumed by Flying Heart Brewing, located in Bossier City. |
| Chappapeela Farms Brewery | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Amite City | 2015 | 2015 | |
| CottonPort Brewing | Microbrewery | Sterlington | 2016 | 2016 | |
| Covington Brewhouse | Microbrewery | Covington | 2005 | 2018 | Originally opened as Heiner Brau Brewery in 2005; rebranded to Covington Brewhouse in 2012. |
| Falstaff Brewing Corporation | National Brewery | New Orleans | 1911 | 1979 | Started as National Brewing Company in 1911; renamed National Beverage Company in 1920 and National Industrial Alcohol Co. Inc. Brewery in 1921; acquired by Falstaff in 1936. The brewery was converted into apartments by 2008. |
| Jackson Brewing Company (New Orleans) | Regional Brewery | New Orleans | 1890 | 1974 | Founded under the name Jackson Bohemian Brewery; later known as Jax Beer and Jackson Brewing Company. The former brewery building now serves as residential and retail space. |
| La Brasserie Brewery | New Orleans | 1723 | "Recognized as the first brewery established in Louisiana." | ||
| Louisiana Purchase Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Ponchatoula | 2017 | 2019 | |
| New Orleans Brewing Company Inc. | New Orleans | 1890 | "Established originally as New Orleans Brewing Association in 1890; renamed New Orleans Brewing Company in 1900 and later New Orleans Brewing Company Inc. in 1933." | ||
| Southern Craft Brewing Company | Baton Rouge | 2016 | 2021 | ||
| Wayward Owl Brewing | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2016 | 2018 |
See also
- Beer in the United States
- List of microbreweries
- List of cideries in the United States
- List of defunct breweries in the United States